PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Seeing names like Luke Donald and Ernie Els near the top of The Honda Classic's first-round leaderboard wasn't surprising.

But Brian Davis? Matt Jones? Tim Wilkinson?

There's a long way to go, but it's certainly conceivable that the Honda — which has crowned four first-time PGA Tour winners over the past four years — might represent a breakthrough for someone once again.

Donald shot a bogey-free 64 Thursday for a one-shot lead over Davis and a two-shot edge on Jones after the first round of the Honda — an event he won two years ago at nearby Mirasol, an easier track than PGA National's Champion Course.

Donald missed five greens and seven fairways, including five straight on the back nine — yet, despite windy conditions, posted the Honda's best score in three years.

"I did a lot of good things around the greens and when I had my chances I took them," Donald said. "I didn't drive it particularly well. I need to improve that. I probably hit only half the fairways, which is not quite good enough. Apart from that, everything was very good."

Donald posted the Honda's lowest round since Padraig Harrington shot a final-round 63 to win in 2005 at Mirasol, and the 64 was the best in 571 tournament rounds since the event moved to PGA National — where Mark Wilson's winning score a year ago was 5 under.

Wilson shot a 73 on Thursday.

"I'm definitely going in the right direction," Donald said.

Davis joined the first-round leader in having a bogey-free card.

Jones (66) was alone in third, two shots back. The tour rookie is looking for his sixth made cut in as many starts.

Wilkinson's bogey-free 67 put him with a slew of others — including Els, the world's No. 4 player — three shots back.